THE significant jump in Covid-19 cases today raises important questions that the Health Ministry must address immediately as a matter of duty to the people.
Most importantly, where are these 1,228 people who have been infected being held?
Are they held in hospitals or are they quarantined at home?
We are entitled to this information as concerned citizens trying to do our best to curb the spread of the virus.
The ministry must also address why there has been no indication that the numbers would increase this rapidly. Surely it would have had this information and could have warned the nation in its daily press conferences?
Incredulously, the sudden surge comes just as rumours are rife that the government is about to declare a national emergency.
The ministry should be apolitical and provide this information so that citizens can avoid places that have a growing number of patients.
The ministry should also explain why the spike is happening despite Malaysians obeying the directives and SOPs put forth by the government. What is going on?
Malaysians need a truthful government, and not one that is bent on staying in power through undemocratic means.
The government must be fair in noting that Malaysia previously combated the spread of Covid-19, and in July, we recorded several days of zero cases.
We can do it again without the grave economic consequences attached to the declaration of a national emergency.
The ministry must be more transparent about the sudden increase in cases and make Malaysians feel at ease again. Countries with a more severe number of cases are coping, and we should be able to as well.
The prime minister must not make Malaysians pay for the lack of support for him and his government. We do not deserve chaos, and for panic to reign supreme.
Declaring an emergency will not do anything to combat Covid-19, but just give the prime minister supreme power over the country. – The Vibes, October 24, 2020
* M. Kula Segaran is Ipoh Barat MP
